net calories

loralorent
loralorent Posts: 9 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
i don’t know why but I can’t seem to wrap my head around net calories. I understand it is calculated by calories consumed - calories burnt = net calories (what you have left) ....

I probably eat slightly over my goal, around 1200-1350 a day, but I never log like 10 minute walks as significant exercise which I do sometimes several times a day each day.

so my net calories, on average per week over the last month have been sitting around 4000. is this good then? does this mean I am losing weight and healthily? I have lots of energy, I eat well and exercise daily 60-90 minutes. (calisthenics, yoga) if stats are important, I’m 5’1”, 121 lbs. goal weight 110lbs.

I don’t know why I can’t seem to understand it, it’s like you might as well be speaking mandarin to me!

thanks in advance

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Replies

  • serindipte
    serindipte Posts: 1,557 Member
    The way MFP is set up is that you eat your goal calories as it already includes a deficit. If you exercise, you log that and eat back at least half of those calories. Your net should be at your goal calories. You have under-eaten by nearly 4k calories for the week and your net average is less than 700. Neither of these is healthy and will, eventually, cause health issues, including a slowed metabolism.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    The idea is to hit your net calorie goal. Not eating back your exercise calories can lead to muscle loss and a host of other health problems.
  • loralorent
    loralorent Posts: 9 Member
    ok I see I see. so if I was eating healthily - as in, more calories considering the amount I burn, 4000 net calories under would be ok because 3500 calories is a pound, so therefore it would mean that I am continuously losing weight (in theory)...? is that right or am I just duh? what is a “net calorie goal” like where do you get the goal number?

    I feel incredibly stupid right now.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    MFP already set you up with a calorie deficit. Your goal is 1200 net calories after exercise. So if you eat 1600 calories but burned off 400 via exercise, you are eating 1200 net. You should ideally NOT be under that.
  • loralorent
    loralorent Posts: 9 Member
    ohhh i see...I get it now. I knew it was easy I just couldn’t get my head around it. thanks for all your help explaining to a numbskull like me!
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